By 1847, Große Straße had taken its present shape, stretching from Rathausstraße up to the lively Nordermarkt. The Flensburg address book from the very same year already lists this street, granting every building its place in history. In 1881, the city went a bit number-crazy and reorganized every building’s number, though the old City Hall at number 1 clung to its spot like a stubborn grandfather to his favorite armchair.
Now, pay attention to the “groschen side” and the “5-pfennig side”-no, not characters from a buddy-cop movie, but the two very different halves of the street. On the east, closer to the harbor, you’d find the grand merchant houses, warehouses, and gardens-imagine elegant courtyards where deals happened over schnapps, and ambitious businessmen eyed the ships unloading at the docks. This was the expensive side, the “groschen side”-it cost a whole groschen to live here! On the west, up the steeper slope and further from the harbor buzz, sat the smaller houses and workshops, home to craftsmen and coachmen. It was good, honest work, but only worth 5 pfennigs-hence the name. Flensburg’s own real estate game, in black and white.
Fast-forward to the early 1900s: trams rattled down the street, and families ran for bargains between the tracks. By the 1970s, the trams vanished, making way for the pedestrian zone. In 2007 and 2008, the street got a proper makeover with new granite paving stones from distant Shandong province in China. Today, benches and lamps line the stroll, just waiting for tired shoppers or starry-eyed romantics.
Große Straße is a collection of stories tucked into each doorway. At number 2, you’ll find the old Union Bank, the birthplace of the DRK tracing service after World War II-a gathering point of hope for families ripped apart by chaos. By number 4, desperate folks once read war telegrams posted in boxes, crowds pressing for the latest news regardless of rain or chill.
Step along to number 16, the former Lion Pharmacy, now a bank-talk about changing your prescription to a mortgage. At number 58 stands the Shrangen, a two-story brick building from 1595 with arched arcades-so old it would probably ask for a senior discount if it could!
Some houses here have seen joy and anguish. Number 15-19 bears a Stolperstein remembering Heinrich Lazarus, while number 54 commemorates Arnold Bastian, persecuted in another dark chapter of history. Others bring quirky legends-like number 34, where the unsavory mayor Peter Pomerering supposedly haunts the city as a dog. You might want to be extra nice to any stray pups you meet!
Then there’s number 56, the old Hotel Rasch, where actual royalty and authors-the likes of Hans Christian Andersen and King Christian IX-once fluffed their pillows. Number 75 hides a rooftop with beams from the 1430s, making it the oldest “hat” in Flensburg.
Keep strolling to the north and you’ll hit the Neptunhof of number 77-home to the city’s own mini Neptune fountain, where locals and tourists alike hope for a little extra luck. Imagine the excited chatter of Christmas shoppers at the annual Santa “awakening” here, as festive bells ring.
Große Straße isn’t just a street; it’s a living treasure chest, overflowing with tales of everyday people, feats of courage, legendary mishaps, and a few souls who decided to stick around long after their time. Whether you prefer heroic deeds or a bit of scandal, this street offers both-and unlike the old days, you can find more than a groschen’s worth of adventure on either side.
